Morton Blackwell, an elder statesman of the conservative movement, recently sent a 37-part questionnaire to each of the six remaining declared candidates for chair of the Republican National Committee. The responses have been released, and I've gone through the 30,000 words so you don't have to. Here are my thoughts; I'll go in alphabetical order.

As the '09 city election year dawns, we are already seeing the effect on city governance -- for good or ill -- of the likely mayoral challenge. How does Menino deal with the looming budget crisis, when every choice has political consequences?

It's no secret that Boston, like every other Massachusetts municipality, is on notice that it may be receiving far less state funding this year than its budgeting accounts for.